Crimping machine and methods of making and using

ABSTRACT

Crimping machines, including constructions thereof and methods for their manufacture and use. The crimping machines include at least a first load-bearing component that comprises a plurality of load-bearing laminates that are assembled and secured together. The first load-bearing component is installed in the crimping machine so that a crimping load of the crimping machine is imposed on the first load-bearing component during a crimping operation performed by the crimping machine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/829,691, filed May 31, 2013, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to crimping machines, and moreparticularly to their construction and methods for their manufacture anduse.

There are various configurations for crimping machines (“crimpers”) andmethods for their manufacture. Three such configurations are referred toherein as round head-type, scissor-type, and press-type crimpers,nonlimiting representations of which are depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3,respectively. These types of crimpers have found uses in crimpingvarious hardware, including crimping operations performed to attachfittings on conduits, which as used herein refers to any hose, tube,pipe, or other type of conduit adapted to transport a fluid (liquid orgas) or protect hardware, for example, electrical wiring or otherline-like articles susceptible to damage. Because crimpers are oftenrequired to apply high forces during crimping, their typicalconstruction typically entails large, high-strength structuralcomponents. As examples, the round head-type crimper of FIG. 1 comprisesa large one-piece annular-shaped outer frame 12 that surrounds andsupports crimping shoes 14 that apply the crimping force, thescissor-type crimper of FIG. 2 comprises a large one-piece outer frame16 and an inner cradle or block 18 that are each machined from solidsteel plates and together apply the crimping force, and the press-typecrimper of FIG. 3 comprises upper and lower bases 20 and 22 that areeach machined from solid steel plates and support dies (not shown) thatapply the crimping force.

The configurations of the outer frame 16 and inner block 18 of thescissor-type crimper of FIG. 2 produced by machining can be betterappreciated from the isolated view of these components in FIG. 4. Theframe 16 and inner block 18 support a die carrier assembly 24 comprisingdie carriers 27, and closing of the die carrier assembly 24 is theresult of the inner block 18 being actuated upward by an actuatorassembly 26, causing intermediate master dies or shoes 28 to collapsetoward each other for the purpose of diametrically crimping twocomponents together, such as a fitting onto a conduit. The actuatorassembly 26 is located below the block 18 and die carrier assembly 24and is adapted to raise and lower the block 18 toward the upper end ofthe frame 16. Actuation is typically with hydraulic power, such as ahydraulic cylinder, though mechanical actuation or some other means ofactuation can be used. Those skilled in the art will appreciate thatvarious other types of dies and adapters can be assembled to the diecarrier assembly 24 in order to adapt the crimper for crimping differenttypes and sizes of components.

Traditional types of crimpers of the types represented in FIGS. 1-4 mayhave various shortcomings. As an example, individual steel platesmachined to produce the outer frame 16 and inner block 18 of thescissor-type crimper of FIGS. 2 and 4 can be costly to purchase, andmachining the plates can be difficult because of their size and weightand the awkward locations of certain machined areas on the frame 16 andblock 18, for example, side rails 30 of the outer frame 16 and flanges32 of the inner block 18 that slidably engage each other. When machiningthe frame 16 and block 18 of a traditional scissor-type crimper,machining errors may cause either of these components to be unusable,which can be very costly in terms of materials and processing. Similarchallenges exist for round head-type and press-type crimpers of the typeshown in FIGS. 1 and 3. For example, the outer frame 12 of the roundhead-type crimper of FIG. 1 can be difficult to manufacture, as theframe 12 must be machined to create cavities in which actuators (notshown) are disposed for actuating the crimping shoes 14.

The crimpers represented in FIGS. 1-4 can also have operationallimitations. As an example, the crimping diameter of the scissor-typecrimper of FIGS. 2 and 4 is limited by the extent to which the block 18is able to travel within the outer frame 16. The inner block 18 moves upand down within an interior area 34 formed by machining on opening inthe steel plate used to form the outer frame 16. Though a largerinterior area 34 provides for a larger opening diameter of the diecarrier assembly 24, the size of the interior area 34 also affects theoverall strength of the frame 16, and therefore structural limitationsof the frame 16 also limit the size and opening diameter of the diecarrier assembly 24.

Accordingly, there is a need for crimpers capable of alleviating theabove shortcomings, yet are also capable of providing reliable operationto produce commercially acceptable crimped products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides crimping machines, including particularconstructions thereof and methods for their manufacture and use.

According to one aspect of the invention, a crimping machine includes atleast a first load-bearing component that comprises a plurality ofload-bearing laminates that are assembled and secured together. Thefirst load-bearing component is installed in the crimping machine sothat a crimping load of the crimping machine is imposed on the firstload-bearing component during a crimping operation performed by thecrimping machine.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided thatincludes producing at least a first load-bearing component by assemblingand securing together a plurality of load-bearing laminates. The firstload-bearing component is installed in a crimping machine, and acrimping operation is performed with the crimping machine by applying acrimping load that is imposed on the first load-bearing component.

A technical effect of the invention is the ability to provide a crimpingmachine that is less expensive than traditional methods requiring thepurchase and machining of large plates. Relative complex features can bemore readily machined in relative thin load-bearing laminates, andmachining errors resulting in scrappage of a laminate are less costly ascompared to machining errors that necessitate scrappage of a much largerplate. For embodiments of scissor-type crimpers that include an outerframe and inner block, each of these components can be manufactured as aload-bearing component that includes spacer laminates between or amongthe load-bearing laminates. In addition, the load-bearing and spacerlaminates within the outer frame and inner block can be interdigitatedor otherwise arranged in a manner that enables the crimper to haveincreased opening and closing distances as compared to a traditionalscissor-type crimper having an interior area of the same dimensions.

Other aspects and advantages of this invention will be betterappreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 schematically represent examples of round head-type,scissor-type, and press-type crimpers known in the art.

FIG. 4 schematically represents an outer frame and inner block of thescissor-type crimper of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views schematically representing oppositesides of an inner block subassembly assembled with an outer framesubassembly for use in construction of, respectively, a laminate innerblock and a laminate outer frame of a scissor-type crimper.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically representing a laminate outerframe constructed of a plurality of outer frame subassemblies of thetype represented in FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIG. 8 is an exploded view of theouter frame of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view schematically representing a laminate innerblock constructed of a plurality of inner block subassemblies of thetype represented in FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIG. 10 is an exploded view ofthe inner block of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically representing the laminateinner block of FIG. 9 assembled and integrated with the laminate outerframe of FIG. 7 to yield a block and frame assembly, and FIG. 12 is anexploded view of the assembly of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view schematically representing the block andframe assembly of FIG. 11 further assembled with additional componentsto yield a scissor-type crimper.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a press-type crimper comprisinglaminate bases that are each constructed of a plurality of load-bearinglaminates, and FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the laminate bases of FIG.14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides various types of crimping machines(crimpers) that can be manufactured to have at least one component thatis an assembly of individual sheets, plates or plies (hereinafter,laminates) that are assembled and secured together to form a laminateassembly. The invention will be primarily discussed hereinafter inreference to a scissor-type crimper, such as of the type shown in FIGS.2 and 4. However, it will be appreciated that the teachings of theinvention are more generally applicable to various types of crimpers,such as, but not limed to, the round head-type and press-type crimpersof FIGS. 1 and 3. The following discussion will focus primarily oncertain aspects of crimpers that differ from the crimpers of FIGS. 1through 4, and other aspects not discussed in any detail may be, interms of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as wasdescribed for the crimpers of FIGS. 1 through 4. To facilitate thedescription of disclosed embodiments of the invention provided below,relative terms, including but not limited to, “vertical,” “horizontal,”“lateral,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “forward,” “rearward,” “upper,”“lower,” “above,” “below,” “right,” “left,” etc., may be used inreference to the orientation of the various views in FIGS. 5 through 15,and therefore are relative terms and should not be otherwise interpretedas limitations to the construction, installation, operation or use of acrimper.

FIG. 13 schematically represents a scissor-type crimper 40 comprising anouter frame 46 and inner cradle or block 48 assembled with the frame 46and adapted to cooperate with the frame 46 to apply a crimping forcetherebetween. As such, the frame 46 and block 48 are both load-bearingcomponents of the crimper 40. The frame 46 and block 48 yield a blockand frame assembly 50 (FIG. 11), which is shown in FIG. 13 as furtherassembled with additional components to yield the scissor-type crimper40. In particular, the frame 46 and block 48 support a die carrierassembly 42, and closing of the die carrier assembly 42 is the result ofthe block 48 being actuated by an actuator assembly 44, causingintermediate master dies or shoes of the die carrier assembly 42 tocollapse toward each other for the purpose of diametrically crimping twocomponents together, such as a fitting onto a conduit. The actuatorassembly 42 can be of any suitable type, including but not limited to ahydraulic cylinder or a mechanical actuator. The crimper 40 is notlimited to the type of die carrier assembly 42 depicted in FIG. 13, andvarious types of dies and adapters can be assembled to the die carrierassembly 42 in order to adapt the crimper 40 for crimping differenttypes and sizes of components.

As evident from FIGS. 11 through 13, the outer frame 46 and inner block48 of the block and frame assembly 50 are each an assembly of individuallaminates, and as such may be referred to as a laminate outer frame 46and a laminate inner block 48. As represented in FIGS. 7 and 8, theouter frame 46 is preferably constructed of a plurality of outer framesubassemblies 52 and, as represented in FIGS. 9 and 10, the inner block48 is preferably constructed of a plurality of inner block subassemblies54. FIGS. 5 and 6 represent a single inner block subassembly 54assembled with a single outer frame subassembly 52. As evident fromFIGS. 5 and 6, each subassembly 52 and 54 is made up of multipleindividual laminates 56 and 58 having different functions. The laminates56 will be referred to herein as load-bearing laminates 56 that areconfigured to contact or otherwise apply the crimping force to the diecarrier assembly 42 and therefore bear the crimping load during acrimping process. The other laminates 58 will be referred to herein asspacer laminates 58 whose function is to appropriately and reliablyposition and space the load-bearing laminates 56 relative to each other.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the load-bearing laminate 56 of theinner block subassembly 54 entirely defines the outermost perimeter 60of the subassembly 54, and is essentially continuous within thisperimeter 60, whereas a spacer laminate 58 defines, at most, onlyportions of the perimeter 60 and is not continuous throughout the extentsurrounded by the perimeter 60. Instead, the spacer laminate 58 liesentirely within the perimeter 60 of the block subassembly 54 defined bythe load-bearing laminate 56, is entirely superimposed by the load-bearing laminate 56 of the subassembly 54, and is set back (recessed)from at least a portion of the perimeter 60 to define a gap 76 betweentwo immediately-adjacent load-bearing laminates 56 (FIG. 9). Similarly,the load-bearing laminate 56 of the outer frame subassembly 52 entirelydefines innermost and outermost perimeters 61 and 62 of the subassembly52, and is essentially continuous between these perimeters 61 and 62,whereas multiple spacer laminates 58 define, at most, only portions ofthe perimeters 61 and 62 and are not continuous therebetween. Instead,the multiple spacer laminates 58 lie entirely within the perimeters 61and 62 of the outer frame subassembly 52 defined by the load-bearinglaminate 56, defining an arrangement of spacer laminates 58 that areentirely superimposed by the load-bearing laminate 56 of the subassembly52, with portions of the spacer laminates 58 being set back (recessed)from at least a portion of each perimeter 61 and 62 to define gaps 74(FIG. 7) between two immediately-adjacent load-bearing laminates 56.

As a result of the arrangements of the load-bearing and spacer laminates56 and 58 described above, surfaces 64 of the load-bearing laminate 56of the outer frame subassembly 52 remain exposed by its correspondingspacer laminates 58, and surfaces 66 of the load-bearing laminate 56 ofthe inner block subassembly 54 remain exposed by its spacer laminate 58.At least portions of these surfaces 64 and 66 are adapted to contacteach other during movement of the inner block 48 within an interior area68 of the outer frame 46 defined by its innermost perimeter 61. FromFIGS. 5 through 12 and the completed block and frame assembly 50 ofFIGS. 11 and 13, it can be appreciated that the spacer laminates 58 areinterleaved with the load-bearing laminates 56, such that portions ofthe exposed surfaces 64 and 66 are disposed on frame and block flanges70 and 72, respectively (FIG. 5), of adjacent pairs of load-bearinglaminates 56, and the aforementioned gaps 74 and 76 are defined betweenthe flanges 70 and 72 (FIGS. 7 and 9). By placing the flanges 70 of theframe 46 within the gaps 76 of the block 48 and placing the flanges 72of the block 48 within the gaps 74 of the frame 46, thus preferablyinterdigitating the frame and block flanges 70 and 72, the block 48 isslidably secured to the frame 46. In effect, the frame flanges 70functionally perform the role of the traditional side rails 30 and theblock flanges 72 functionally perform the role of the traditionalflanges 32 of FIGS. 2 and 4. As evident from FIGS. 11 and 13, crimpingforces are applied in a direction parallel to the plane of eachload-bearing laminate 56. Because the load-bearing laminates 56 definethe perimeters 60, 61 and 62 of the outer frame 46 and inner block 48,the crimping load imposed on a load-bearing laminate 56 is parallel tothe plane of the laminate 56 and, at most, may be distributed betweenload-bearing laminates 56 through contact with shared spacer laminates58.

As represented in FIGS. 7 through 13, fasteners 78 can be used to securemultiple outer frame subassemblies 52 together to form the outer frame46 and to secure multiple inner block subassemblies 54 together to formthe inner block 48. However, it should be understood that the frame 46and block 48 could be held together by other means.

As should be evident from FIG. 13, the above-described combinations ofload-bearing laminates 56 and spacer laminates 58 used to manufacturethe load-bearing outer frame 46 and inner block 48 enable the crimper 40to have a similar appearance and to essentially function in the samemanner as the scissor-type crimper represented in FIG. 2. A laminateconstruction can be employed to construct other types of crimpers. Forexample, FIGS. 14 and 15 represent a press-type crimper 80 havingload-bearing bases 82 and 84 with a laminate construction. The bases 82and 84 are not required to be assembled in an interdigitated manner, inwhich case the spacer laminates 58 of the prior embodiment can beomitted, such that each base 82 and 84 is shown as entirely constructedof load-bearing laminates 56. Because crimping forces are applied in adirection normal to the plane of each base 82 and 84, the laminates 56primarily promote the ability of the bases 82 and 84 to resist flexingout of their respective planes.

Crimpers manufactured from laminates 56 and (optionally) 58 as describedabove benefit from the ability to more readily handle and machine thethinner laminates 56 and 58 as compared to a solid plate of a sizeequivalent to a laminate component (e.g., outer frame 46 or inner block48) constructed of the laminates 56 and 58. The material for thelaminates 56 and 58 can also be less expensive to purchase than anequivalent-sized solid plate. The construction from interleavedlaminates 56 and 58 also facilitates machining various features that aremore difficult with an equivalent-sized solid plate, for example, theside rails 30 of the outer frame 16 and the flanges 32 of the innerblock 18 of the conventional scissor-type crimper of FIGS. 2 and 4.

A round head-style crimper (FIG. 1) can also benefit from beingmanufactured from laminates 56 and/or 58, as the material costs,machining, and assembly of the laminates 56 and 58 to produce theannular-shaped outer frame 12 can be less extensive than theconventional approach of producing the frame 12 by casting andmachining.

Crimpers manufactured from laminates 56 and 58 as described above alsobenefit from the ability to reduce the costs associated with errorsduring manufacturing. For example, if an error occurs during themachining of a spacer or load-bearing laminate 56 and 58, only a smallsubcomponent (e.g., the laminate 56 or 58) of the intended component(e.g., frame 46 or block 48) need be scrapped or remanufactured,avoiding the cost incurred to scrap and replace an entireequivalent-sized solid plate.

In terms of operation, crimpers manufactured from laminates 56 and 58 asdescribed above also benefit from the interdigitated frame and blockflanges 70 and 72 replacing the side rails 30 and flanges 32 of theconventional scissor-type crimper of FIGS. 2 and 4. Because the flanges70 and 72 of the load-bearing laminates 56 of the frame 46 and block 48are able to slide within the gaps 74 and 76 between the flanges 70/72 ofthe other, the crimper 40 can have a greater opening and closingdistance when compared to a traditional scissor-type crimper of the samedimensions, for example, the same interior area 68 within the innerperimeter 61 of the outer frame 46. This aspect is significant becauseit can reduce overall size, weight, and cost of material and/or allow alarger crimping die open diameter as compared to a traditionalscissor-type crimper.

A variation of the techniques described above could be to manufactureeither but not both of the frame 46 and block 48 from the laminates 56and 58. It should be further noted that, aside from the desire tointerdigitate to some extent the load-bearing laminates 56 of the frame46 and block 48, there are no set number, thicknesses, materials, orarrangements required of the laminates 56 and 58, other that what wouldbe prescribed by conventional engineering principles. Furthermore, it isforeseeable that additional components could be incorporated into alaminate component (for example, the frame 46 and/or block 48) withinthe scope of the invention, including but not limited to laminates thatmight not be described as spacer or load-bearing laminates as theseterms are used herein.

In view of the above, while the invention has been described in terms ofparticular embodiments, it is apparent that other forms could be adoptedby one skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is tobe limited only by the following claims.

1. A crimping machine comprising at least a first load-bearingcomponent, the first load-bearing component comprising a plurality ofload-bearing laminates assembled and secured together and installed inthe crimping machine so that a crimping load of the crimping machine isimposed on the first load-bearing component during a crimping operationperformed by the crimping machine.
 2. The crimping machine of claim 1,wherein the first load-bearing component further comprises at least onespacer laminate between at least first and second load-bearing laminatesof the plurality of the load-bearing laminates, the spacer laminate isassembled and secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates todefine a gap therebetween, and the crimping load is imposed in adirection parallel to a plane of each of the first and secondload-bearing laminates.
 3. The crimping machine of claim 2, wherein thefirst and second load-bearing laminates entirely define an outermostperimeter of the first load-bearing component, and the spacer laminateis set back from at least a portion of the outermost perimeter to definethe gap.
 4. The crimping machine of claim 2, further comprising a secondload-bearing component that comprises at least first and secondload-bearing laminates and at least one spacer laminate therebetween,the spacer laminate of the second load-bearing component being assembledand secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates of the secondload-bearing component to define a gap therebetween.
 5. The crimpingmachine of claim 4, wherein the first and second load- bearing laminatesof the first load-bearing component are interdigitated with the firstand second load-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component.6. The crimping machine of claim 5, wherein the first load-bearingcomponent is an outer frame that defines an interior area, and thesecond load-bearing component is an inner block slidably disposed andsecured within the interior area as a result of the interdigitation ofthe first and second load-bearing laminates of the outer frame and theinner block.
 7. The crimping machine of claim 6, wherein the crimpingmachine further comprises a die carrier assembly mounted to the outerframe and to the inner block.
 8. The crimping machine of claim 2,wherein the crimping machining is a scissor-type crimping machinecomprising an outer frame that defines an interior area, an inner blockslidably disposed and secured within the interior area, and means foractuating the inner block within the interior area, and wherein thefirst load-bearing component is one of the outer frame and the innerblock.
 9. The crimping machine of claim 8, wherein the firstload-bearing component is the outer frame.
 10. The crimping machine ofclaim 8, wherein the first load-bearing component is the inner block.11. The crimping machine of claim 9, wherein the crimping machinefurther comprises a second load-bearing component, and the secondload-bearing component is the inner block.
 12. The crimping machine ofclaim 8, wherein the first and second load-bearing laminates entirelydefine an outermost perimeter of the first load-bearing component, andthe spacer laminate is set back from at least a portion of the outermostperimeter to define the gap.
 13. The crimping machine of claim 8,further comprising a second load-bearing component that comprises atleast first and second load-bearing laminates and at least one spacerlaminate therebetween, the spacer laminate of the second load-bearingcomponent being assembled and secured to the first and secondload-bearing laminates of the second load-bearing component to define agap therebetween.
 14. The crimping machine of claim 13, wherein thefirst and second load-bearing laminates of the first load-bearingcomponent are interdigitated with the first and second load-bearinglaminates of the second load-bearing component.
 15. The crimping machineof claim 14, wherein the first load-bearing component is the outerframe, and the second load-bearing component is the inner block and isslidably disposed and secured within the interior area as a result ofthe interdigitation of the first and second load-bearing laminates ofthe outer frame and the inner block.
 16. The crimping machine of claim8, wherein the crimping machine further comprises a die carrier assemblymounted to the first load-bearing component.
 17. A method comprising:producing at least a first load-bearing component by assembling andsecuring together a plurality of load-bearing laminates; installing thefirst load-bearing component in a crimping machine; and performing acrimping operation with the crimping machine by applying a crimping loadthat is imposed on the first load-bearing component.
 18. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the producing step further comprises producing thefirst load-bearing component to comprise at least one spacer laminatebetween at least first and second load-bearing laminates of theplurality of the load-bearing laminates, the spacer laminate isassembled and secured to the first and second load-bearing laminates todefine a gap therebetween, and the crimping load is imposed in adirection parallel to a plane of each of the first and secondload-bearing laminates.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprisingproducing a second load-bearing component to comprise at least first andsecond load-bearing laminates and at least one spacer laminatetherebetween, the spacer laminate of the second load-bearing componentbeing assembled and secured to the first and second load-bearinglaminates of the second load-bearing component to define a gaptherebetween, and the installing step further comprising interdigitatingthe first and second load-bearing laminates of the first load-bearingcomponent with the first and second load-bearing laminates of the secondload-bearing component.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the firstload-bearing component is an outer frame of the crimping machine, theouter frame defines an interior area, the second load-bearing componentis an inner block of the crimping machine, and the inner block isslidably disposed and secured within the interior area as a result ofthe interdigitation of the first and second load-bearing laminates ofthe outer frame and the inner block.